When Jason Blossom is presumed dead, Riverdale shifts on its axis. Letting in the horror, and darkness that had been held at bay.
Archie, Veronica, Clary, Jughead, and Betty grapple with desires, love, drama, and murderers all while coping with the...
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Jughead Jones
"SO BLOSSOM WAS THE KINGPIN," SHERIFF KELLER EXPLAINED TO DAD
his voice carried across the small, dimly lit interrogation room as I stood silently by the window, listening intently.
"What the Mayor and I care about is the local component of Blossom's business. Someone is selling his drugs here in Riverdale. Mostly in the Southside... Hmm. But it's started to cross the tracks, recently, too," Keller continued, his expression serious.
"And you think it's the Serpents?" Dad inquired, his tone skeptical.
"Who else? So here's the deal. You feed us names, tell me who's pushing the dope, and the Mayor, the DA have a chat, and maybe he'd be inclined to offer you a lesser sentence," Keller proposed, leaning forward slightly, emphasizing the gravity of the situation.
"Serpents don't get into the hard stuff. It's dime bags of weed. And I'm no snitch," Dad replied defiantly, crossing his arms.
Sheriff Keller stood from his desk and walked over to the cell where Dad was confined, his expression hardening. "FP, if you don't help us and your case goes to trial, there will be no leniency. You'll be looking at 20 years in a federal penitentiary for your part in the cover-up of Jason Blossom's murder."
The air in the room grew tense as the weight of Keller's words settled between them, the stark reality of Dad's predicament hanging heavily in the air.
"So I'm officially dating a Blossom," I said with a smile as Clary showed me her new license while we walked towards school.
"Officially no longer a Cooper. And Penelope has full custody over me now. I just need to move out, but Mom's pushing it, trying to get me to come home," she replied, slipping our conjoined hands into my coat pocket.
"You're going to keep calling her mom?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Old habits die hard. And in all fairness, Juggy, she did raise me for sixteen years," Clary said, looking at me earnestly. "Did they ever explain how you ended up in the Cooper's custody in the first place?" I asked.
She shook her head. "I asked, but both families brushed me off. And now with no Clifford, my life just got a lot more hectic."
"Well, the jubilee is coming up. Are you performing at it?" I asked, pulling our hands out of my pocket to kiss hers.
"Yeah, with the Pussycats. We're trying to find some normalcy in this chaos," She replied as we approached the school building and heard an announcement over the intercom.
"Archie Andrews, Betty Cooper, Clarissa Blossom, report to the Principal's office," the voice announced, causing us both to exchange a glance filled with curiosity and apprehension.
"I told her I wouldn't do it. Not unless you're up there with us, Jug," Clary said at lunch, explaining the mayor's request for her to give a speech at the jubilee along with her song.
"I appreciate the righteous indignation, Clare, I do, but Jubilees aren't my thing," I replied, rubbing her hand gently as she rested her head on my shoulder.
"Jug, how's your dad? Did you get in to see him?" Archie asked, munching on a pretzel.
"Here's the latest. Mayor McCoy wants my dad to name names in exchange for a lesser sentence," I explained.
"What? Whose names?" Betty asked with concern.
"The Serpents. Sheriff Keller thinks they're the ones dealing the drug that Clifford Blossom brought into town," I elaborated, and Kevin interjected, "My dad says more and more drugs are hitting the streets."
"Kevin, relax, this isn't The Wire. My dad says they're not the ones dealing," I assured him, and Clary tossed pieces of her bread roll into her salad, clearly deep in thought.
"And meanwhile, Mayor McCoy hasn't even said the words 'Clifford' or 'Blossom' in public," Clary remarked with frustration.
"It's all about how the Serpents are the problem, the villains. This is outrageous. I'm writing an article about this, and not just for The Blue and Gold, for The Register. This is a town story," Betty declared passionately.
"Okay, as long as the article doesn't include my dad," I insisted firmly.
"No, it is going to be about your dad, Jug. It doesn't matter how many Jubilees Mayor McCoy throws. This town's changed. That needs to be acknowledged. Why are people so afraid of the truth?" Betty pressed on.
"Speaking of the truth..." Veronica stood up, and Clary chuckled softly into my shoulder. I kissed her head as Veronica continued, "Archie and I wanted to tell you two..."
"We've kissed a couple of times," Archie completed the sentence, and Veronica took a seat.
"It's okay, Vee," Clary reassured her, rubbing her hand.
"I appreciate you being honest with me, but Clary's with Jughead now, and I'm with Ben. If you guys want to be together, I'm happy for you," Betty added diplomatically.
"Thanks, girls," Veronica said, visibly relieved.
"Thanks, Betty," Clary added with a grateful smile.
"Clary, how was your dad's funeral?" Veronica inquired, but Clary's face turned pale.
"It was... quaint. Of course, no one wants to come and celebrate the life of a drug lord and murderer," Clary sighed, and I comfortingly rubbed her back.
